Computer monitoring - what's the best program?

[uctofeej]

You may not need a specific program for that if you have a modern router. Most routers can log the traffic and email it to a specified account. That would let you monitor any traffic on any computer in your house without any visible program.

 

[GunMD]

I'm surprised at how many here are defaulting to the "good parents" idea as the sole means of protection. I'm not buying it, folks. I keep a VERY close eye on what my 11 year old is doing and a good filtering / logging program is just part of it. Anyone who thinks that just "being a good parent" alone is enough, please keep in mind that www.WhiteHouse.com and www.DinseyLand.com used to be porn sites.

I don't need my child doing research on past presidents and finding porn by mistake. And since I don't do the typing for my son, it's very possible that he could mistype a URL. The filtering software simply provides me with an additional layer of protection.

.02

 

[uctofeej]

I'm surprised at how many here are defaulting to the "good parents" idea as the sole means of protection. I'm not buying it, folks. I keep a VERY close eye on what my 11 year old is doing and a good filtering / logging program is just part of it. Anyone who thinks that just "being a good parent" alone is enough, please keep in mind that www.WhiteHouse.com and www.DinseyLand.com used to be port sites.
I don't need my child doing research on past presidents and finding porn by mistake. And since I don't do the typing for my son, it's very possible that he could mistype a URL. The filtering software simply provides me with an additional layer of protection.

.02

Gunny that! My 9 year old daughter has the best intentions, but she spells phonetically from a child's perspective. She can end up in some interesting places, so I definitely keep a close watch.

 

[Bounce]

I think at some level there is a primary issue of trust and parental responsibility involved. This software, to me, is a work around for proper parental involvement in your child's activities.

+1

as with all software, there are "day zero" gaps and the lack of 100% effectiveness. the best safety (for computers and firearms) is between your ears. proper safety training, adult supervision, and a core belief system will stand kids in good stead when nannies (and nanny software) aren't around.

if a child is young enough for an accidental access to a web site to damage their psyche, then they're young enough for the parent to leave the network connection disabled except for when the parent is present. and, as with all family members on home accounts, they should have a "user" (only) account with certain restrictions (no software installed except through the admin account for example).

 

[EasyRider]

Do all you guys now about POS?

When the kids are on AOL and a parent walks in the room, they send out POS to alert the other people on AOL or other chat rooms that they have a parent over thier shoulder. I'm sure they have other codes also that they work out with each other.

I have a 18 year old son that grew up with no internet restrictions. But I see nothing wrong with having programs that block adult sites. Just remember that they will become aware of any type of restrictive or monitoring software you put on your computers and simply go to another computer that you do not control to see any site they want and you will not be present to or have access to the computer they do this with. You will be pushing their naughty internet activities completely under ground and may make them more interesting at the same time.

I just think you have to drill into them that they can never give out their name and address over the internet to anyone. And ugly as it seems that should have to speak to a young child about the threat from internet predators, it is necessary, even if it scares them and takes some of their innocence away. They must know early that there are people on the internet that may try to do great harm to them. And yes let them know about sexual predators. Make sure they know these predators are often adults that will try to fool them into believing that they are young kids in order to gain there trust. And that they do this to try to get your kid to meet them somewhere with out their parents. And make sure they know your values regarding sex. That is going to be something they will be looking to the internet for when they get close to there teens, at your computer or another that you don't control.

This should be openly talked about openly with the all the family several times as they are growing up in the internet age. You can't barry your head in the sand about it. Not having a computer on the net in the house or having heavy control software will not protect them form this problem. They will get access one way or another to what ever site they want to see. This is why I think it is imperative to teach them how ugly and deceitful internet predators can be on the internet.

 

[cardingtr]

My computers are behind a router so I use the router filtering rules. It works but it's not perfect. You type the websites and words or phrases (XXX, XX, porn, etc.)and everytime any computer goes to a site with the words or phrases on it gets blocked. You can then check the logs in the router where they have been surfing.

So far it works for me. You can put exception on a certain ip that doesn't have to be blocked.

 

[L2M]

You may not need a specific program for that if you have a modern router. Most routers can log the traffic and email it to a specified account. That would let you monitor any traffic on any computer in your house without any visible program.

Router for the win! Just make sure the router is in a location where junior can't reset it. I'll second what everyone else has said and add that, as potentially the youngest here (and having grown up with parents concerned about my internet activity), there is no software which can defeat a determined teenager and definitely none which can defeat a teen with a bend towards programming, IT, etc. My parents tried everything but when Cyberpatrol blocked access to my NFL game day Denver Broncos feed I hacked around it in five minutes flat.

Also, it is important to maintain a healthy level of trust as others have said. That said, I don't know a single guy or girl who has been a teen in the past seven years who hasn't done something on the internet that would make their parents' jaws drop. Tough spot to be in as a parent...not that I've been there yet.